Some of the accused who applied for bail in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court
The bail applications for more than 30 suspects arrested in connection with the ongoing Department of Education (DoE) scandal continued well into the afternoon today, Tuesday, February 24.
The accused a group including nine government officials and multiple service providers were apprehended following investigations into a scheme involving handpicked companies.
These companies were allegedly appointed to repair schools at inflated prices, with payments reportedly made for work that was never performed. The total amount involved in the fraud is estimated to exceed R110 million.
Due to the significant number of accused, presiding officer Magistrate Patrick Morris elected to hear the applications in groups of 10.
As the first group was led into Court C, the accused sat with their heads bowed or used clothing to mask their faces in an attempt to avoid the media. Magistrate Morris was unimpressed by the display, ordering the accused to sit upright and uncover their faces.
The first to apply for bail today was Jabulani Rolland Nkosi (52). An affidavit read into the record by his legal counsel revealed that Nkosi is a director within the Mpumalanga Department of Health and a former Acting Head of Department for the DoE. His professional history also includes several years as a manager at the Kruger National Park.
In his affidavit, Nkosi maintained his innocence and expressed his intention to clear his name. “I submit to the honorable court that I possess a travel document which I use to visit my in-laws in eSwatini. I am married with children, and my wife is currently unemployed. I intend to plead not guilty if granted bail; I shall abide by all conditions imposed by the court,” the statement read.
Nkosi further disclosed ownership of various movable and immovable properties, including a residence in Sunnyside, Pretoria, valued at R250,000.
Magistrate Morris granted Nkosi bail set at R50,000, contingent on the following conditions:
• Surrendering his passport to the investigating officer.
• Refraining from any interference with state witnesses.
• Mandatory attendance at all scheduled court appearances.
Before the court adjourned for lunch, Whisky Mhlabane, Wellemina Mathe, and Sibongile Sithole Dlamini were also granted bail, with amounts ranging between R20,000 and R50,000.
At the time of publication, several other accused remained in custody awaiting their respective bail decisions on Wednesday February 25.
